PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fermin Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Alcatraz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Franklin
vs
Alcatraz

178 cm
24
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

VICIOUS FIGHT GEAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fermin Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jose Alcatraz!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin wants to clinch but Alcatraz slips to the side

and Alcatraz counters with a head kick that drops Franklin to the mat! Franklin scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alcatraz throws a head kick but Franklin moves out of range.
Alcatraz throws a head kick that misses.

Alcatraz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Franklin is looking to improve his position.
Franklin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Alcatraz on the ground.
Alcatraz not doing much here.
Franklin tries to roll over but Alcatraz keeps him under control.
Franklin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Alcatraz is working away from the top position though.
Franklin wants to improve his position but Alcatraz is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin is trying to stand.

Alcatraz decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Alcatraz pushes Franklin up against the cage in a clinch.
Franklin avoiding damage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Franklin for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

Alcatraz is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Franklin can't fight it off and eventually Alcatraz manages to take the fight to the floor. Franklin looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Alcatraz trying to control but Franklin is working from the bottom.
Alcatraz works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin tries to get to full guard but Alcatraz has control of the leg.
Franklin pushes Alcatraz off looking to stand but Alcatraz dives back in and keeps control.

Alcatraz is looking for a kimura but Franklin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Alcatraz to get the leverage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alcatraz wants to stand but Franklin has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Alcatraz prevents Franklin from improving his position.
Franklin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Franklin.
Franklin looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Alcatraz puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Alcatraz keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Alcatraz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franklin keeps working.
Franklin is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alcatraz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Franklin's head.
Alcatraz trying to control from half guard but Franklin is working away.
Alcatraz wants to stand up but Franklin has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Jose Alcatraz has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Alcatraz fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Franklin to the ground. Alcatraz is now in Franklin's guard.
Alcatraz looks winded!

Franklin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Alcatraz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Alcatraz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Alcatraz won't allow Franklin to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin working a defensive guard here.

Franklin is working an open guard so Alcatraz takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Alcatraz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Alcatraz looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Franklin gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Alcatraz tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Franklin is desperately trying to improve his position but Alcatraz has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Alcatraz dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Alcatraz tries a head kick but it misses.
Franklin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Franklin tries to clinch up.

Alcatraz moves into the clinch.

Alcatraz pulls guard successfully.

Franklin drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Alcatraz manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Franklin has Alcatraz in his guard.
Alcatraz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Alcatraz forces his way into half guard.
Alcatraz controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alcatraz is working for a submission of some sort.
Alcatraz lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Franklin is refusing to be controlled, as Alcatraz sits in half guard.
Franklin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin taking some punishment here, with Alcatraz in his half guard.
Franklin tries to kick Alcatraz off but Alcatraz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Alcatraz uses his free foot to push down on Franklin's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Franklin.
Alcatraz takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Alcatraz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Franklin is looking to escape.

Alcatraz is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Franklin can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Franklin working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alcatraz looking to control and managing it successfully.
Alcatraz avoids the attempt from Franklin to control.
Franklin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Alcatraz looking to control but Franklin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin tries to reverse the position but Alcatraz maintains control.

Alcatraz looking for a guillotine from mount but Franklin is having none of it.
Franklin sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Franklin is looking to improve his position.
Franklin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Alcatraz scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alcatraz controlling the action here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Franklin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Alcatraz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Alcatraz throws a sloppy head kick and Franklin moves out of range easily.

Alcatraz feints and as Franklin raises his hands in defense, Alcatraz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Alcatraz is looking to stand up but Franklin won't let him.
Alcatraz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Alcatraz preventing the sweep.

Franklin kicks Alcatraz off and gets to his feet.

Alcatraz closes the distance and clinches.

Franklin successfully pulls guard.
Franklin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Franklin wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin trying to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alcatraz works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Alcatraz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Alcatraz in particular looking to stall.
Alcatraz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Franklin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Alcatraz tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Alcatraz working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is looking to improve his position.
Jose Alcatraz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Alcatraz trying to control the action but Franklin is working from the bottom.
Alcatraz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Franklin tries to roll over but Alcatraz keeps him under control.
Alcatraz is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Franklin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Alcatraz wants to control the pace but Franklin is squirming around nicely.
Franklin is desperately trying to improve his position but Alcatraz has a good base and remains in mount.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Alcatraz wants to control the pace but Franklin is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Franklin is trying to reverse the position but instead Alcatraz has taken his back - oops!
Alcatraz biding his time, looking for the opening.
Alcatraz controlling well, preventing Franklin from escaping the position.
Good control from Alcatraz.
Alcatraz has the hooks in. Franklin is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Alcatraz is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
You can see the frustration on Franklin's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alcatraz is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Franklin with him. Franklin is trying to defend but Alcatraz has an arm under the chin now! Franklin grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jose Alcatraz!